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There is something you must do if buying travel insurance for a fly/ride motorcycle holiday – Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) carefully.
I used to have annual travel policies when living in Japan and frequently visiting Philippines (above) and SE Asia which I arranged via a broker to ensure covered motorcycling but now with a pre existing condition I am excluded from those and have to obtain new (expensive) travel insurance each trip I make.
What has caught my attention is some insurers who advertise travel insurance for motorcycle riding activities for an additional fee then have clauses in their PDS making the insurance null and void for many riders.
One example I picked up was CoverMore quietly added a clause in their PDS that says you must own a registered motorcycle in Australia of an equal or larger engine capacity to the one you rent overseas. I’ve used them a few times in the past but depending on when this was added I was actually uninsured. Pretty sneaky – who would think when you tick the box specifically adding on their optional motorcycle insurance that there would be such a exception buried in the PDS.
So even if using an insurer you previously thought was ok you have to read every update to the PDS to see if anything new has been added.
An item I noticed a couple of years back was World Nomads which was popular on Horizons Unlimited with overland travel riders and that I had used myself added a clause that motorcycle riding was only covered when you were in the company of a licenced guide. Again I bet many riders are unaware they are not insured just because they are riding independently.
Riding in Vietnam Australians are technically unlicenced because our International Drivers Permit is not recognised nor is our Australian licence so depending on the wording of your travel insurance and the interpretation of it’s loss adjuster you will be uninsured there. I completed three rides in Vietnam but uncertain if I will ride there again.
I have also noticed that most who do cover motorcycle riding exclude carrying a passenger on motorcycle even if you are licenced to have a pillion so read all the PDS keeping an eye on the wording around riding as a couple.
Just to be clear I am talking about being covered for medical in an accident not for the bike or any rental excess. All of my rides in SE Asia had no insurance on the motorcycles with most rental shops holding your passport as collateral. I was blaze’ about it 12 years ago but have become more risk adverse since. I’ve booked and cancelled riding Thailand the last two years and cancelled it again next year. I’ve ridden 25 tours in SE Asia with no bike insurance and never had an issue but the phrase ‘pushing your luck’ comes to mind.
Australia has reciprocal health care arrangements with 11 countries, one that many riders might visit is New Zealand where I can vouch we receive free ambulance and public hospital treatment. But most popular riding destinations you should have insurance to cover medical and ambulance costs and when seeking that for riding you need to read the PDS carefully knowing the travel insurance industry loss adjusters are notorious for ruthlessly denying claims so make sure you are actually covered.
Wow, that is great to know. Had no idea, very sneaky as you say.
Hi Mark,
Yes it’s a heads up for riders to check the small print, I don’t know if I was actually insured on my recent ride in Canada due to the change in the PDS that I had not read previously. Quite a scary thought!
Yeah, insurance scams exist with most insurance agents. Where they state motorcycles are covered, only to find when reading the pds its only covered up to 250cc or less.
Yes that is very common Steve, I’ve seen up to 125cc only also.
Very good post. May I ask, which travel insurance company(s) do you use yourself at the present time?
I stopped using Covermore 4 years ago and now use Tick, which has sufficient motorbike riding cover for my needs and also covers a pre-existing condition.
PS. I love your blog. I rarely post a comment, but have been quietly reading for many years. I generally travel and ride a motorbike in Asian countries for 8+ weeks each year.
Dale – Hobart, TAS.
Hi Dale,
I also have used Tick a few times as well ‘1 Cover’. Some destinations made prices vary or affected my eligibility. Pakistan was notably not covered by many.
Thanks for your kind words.